Trip to Cali- Help!

So I'm going to surprise Dino with a trip to Cali for his 30th birthday. He;s never been and always wanted to. I did it awhile ago/...drove down the coast and it was amazing, but dont remember where we stayed.

Any recommendations on hotels or websites?

My plan is start in San Fran, then drive down the coast...make a stop or two, and end up in LA. I would love to go to San Diego, but that might be too far. We could only stay 7 nights...the most.


Thanks!!

Re: Trip to Cali- Help!

San Diego is only 2 hours fromLA, so if you can squeeze it in, definitely do. It's such a great city.

For LA hotels...the viceroy in Santa monica is one of my favorites. It's in a great location. If you'd prefer to be on the sunset strip...the best western is great. It's nothing like typical best western hotels...very unique and reasonable for the area. Chateau Marmount is my favorite on the strip...but expensive.

Re: Trip to Cali- Help!

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Posted by FallBride2010

San Diego is only 2 hours fromLA, so if you can squeeze it in, definitely do. It's such a great city.

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Totally agree. We did the drive but in reverse - San Diego to San Fran and I LOVEDDD San Diego.

In San Diego we stayed at a Marriott which was nice, nothing out of the ordinary and we defintiely needed a car to get places from where it was located.

In LA we stayed at the Beverly Wilshire which was INCREDIBLE. Loved it.

If you guys want something a little different just north of LA in Goleta we stayed at the Circle Bar B Ranch and went horse back riding, they do all of the meals family style in the main dining room. There is a pool and you get your own private cabin. It was such a great place, awesome people and very relaxing. The views you see while horseback riding are incredible.

In Monterey I think we just stayed at a Hilton, nothing exciting.

San Fran we stayed at The San Francisco Marriott Fisherman's Wharf was really nice and conveniently located.

ETA: In wine country we stayed at the Fountaingrove Inn Hotel, it was actually in Santa Rosa... but for DH's birthday I took him to the most amazing restaurant, Syrah Bistro in Santa Rosa. I couldn't get reservations at The French Laundry and someone recommended this place to me and it was awesome. We did a 7 course tasting menu with wine pairings. It was INCREDIBLE. Top 5 best meals I've ever had and DH loved it.

There are pics in my albums on Facebook of our trip if you want to check it out!

Re: Trip to Cali- Help!

lego land?!

Re: Trip to Cali- Help!

hahah legoland!

Thanks girls! Gina, I'm going to check out your pictures and those hotels. I guess we can fit San Diego in there, which is cool because I've never been there. very excited!!!!!

Thanks again :)

Gina: how many days was your trip?

Re: Trip to Cali- Help!

we did a san fran/napa trip a few years ago, and it was awesome. we flew to san fran, drove to napa and then back to san fran.

in napa we stayed at the wine country inn, and in san fran we stayed at the fairmont. if you opt to go this route, let me know. i'd be happy to share reccos.

Re: Trip to Cali- Help!

w hotel or adagio in San fran - def go to the stinking rose restaurant if you LOOOOVE GARLIC, LOL.. its an experience.. drive down lombardi street.. go to fishermans wharf...

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LA - my little diamond in the ruff - (Le Parc Suites if you want to be in west hollywood area, best breakfast and love the rooftop pool)

If you want to be in Bev hills - (100 percent Raffles L'ermitage, best hotel I have ever stayed in)

Four Seasons - IN LA is fabulous .. best spa and massges..

check out the sunset strip.. its great..
if you like karaoke - check out Dimples bar in Burbank.. so much fun!!! they make you a cd of you singing and take your pic..

check out the Hollywood sign and drive down mulholland.. check out the house in malibu.. and shop rodeo drive

Also Venice beach and santa monica beautiful places to check out ..
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San Diego - W hotel or Hotel Solamar

The beach bar on the 2nd floor of the W hotel is amazing.. fun time.. check out Sea world and the San Diego zoo... we had a blast .. Pacific beach is really nice too. La hoja beaches are beautiful... def take a drive that way

Re: Trip to Cali- Help!

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Posted by jackieee

hahah legoland!

Thanks girls! Gina, I'm going to check out your pictures and those hotels. I guess we can fit San Diego in there, which is cool because I've never been there. very excited!!!!!

Thanks again :)

Gina: how many days was your trip?

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We were there for 10 days. We left early on a Friday, (June 26th - I remember bc it was the day after Michael Jackson died!!) and came home on July 4th. Our offices were both closed on the 3rd (a Friday) so we still only used 5 vacation days.

Re: Trip to Cali- Help!

If you are considering a drive up to Sonoma/Napa from San Francisco area, I have a great recommendation for Sonoma, Cottage Inn and Spa. We loved it there. Its right off the big square in town so was so convenient to great restaurants and in walking distance of some wineries!

http://www.cottageinnandspa.com/

Re: Trip to Cali- Help!

We did LA to San Fran for 10 days, 2 years ago. We moved every two days.

Started in Malibu (did Disneyland, baseball game, shopping, dinner at Spago and met Wolfgang puck), then Santa Barbara (stayed right outside it at an AMAZING inn that we still talk about, so beautiful, free breakfast included that was SO good, comfy beds). It's called The Inn at Summer Hill. Then Monterey, then Sonoma for two days, then ended in San Fran.

At Sonoma we rented an awesome cottage, very private, with a hot tub. http://sonomavalleyescapes.com/v_deerhaven.html

We did Hearst Castle along the way.